The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-07-21

Certainly. II was no comfort 10 Tad,
who was nearly wild with grief at the
loss of the one being whom he had TO
love in the wide world. Only for things
that his mother said to him before she
fell asleep, l fear Tad would have drift
ed into the ways of too many of our
city boys who. ike him, are left home
less and friendless amid temptation and
sin. But the boy had good stuff in
him, and, best of all, he held his moth
er's memory and parting words as
something too sacred to be forgotten.
| do not claim that he was one of those
immaculate street boys common enough
in fiction. but, alas. so rare in fact. By
no means. Truth cOmpels me to state
that Tad Thorne ut the age of fourteen
was rather rude in speech, quick-tem-
pered and the owner of decidedly
obstinate disposition, which. however,
was readily affected by kindly words.
Yet. do you wonder at his faults? The
only wonder to myself is that Tad did
not become a really bad boy; for since
say. almost lived in the streets. For
Tad had no home. A friendly news
vender gave him lodgings under his
periodical counter in the city post
office. in return for which Tad sold pa
pers or ran errands. And in odd mo-
ments he had managed to keep soul
and body together by backing boots,
peddling matches. carrying valises,
holding horses, and Il score of cthe- de-
vices known to the average street 10Y.
have mentioned Tad's faults; now
let me tell You some Of his better quail
ties. He was honest. clean-mOuthed.a and,
generally speaking, truthful, as well as
kind-hearted and generous to an ex-
travagant degree. He had attended the
night schools - attracted at first by
their warmth and comfort-where he
learned to read creditably, spell fairly,
write legibly and cipher understand
ingly. But, with his superiority in many
respects over the associates among
whom his lot of late had been thrown,
Tad, in thinking matters over, had to
confess that, in a business point of
view, he had been any thing but a sue
cess The truth is, Tad was not sharp
or INSCRIPTIONS enough to compete
with his fellows; but this fact he did
not recognize.
guess I'm not one of the lucky
ones" he murmured, rather ruefully,
as he mentally reviewed his many
business failures, while the swift train,
which was bearing him away from the
scene of them all, to fresh fields and
pastures new, went laundering On
through the darkness toward Boston.
Boston! As Tad's thoughts reverted
from the past. the name repeated itself
over in his mind. Seems as though |
heard mother say once that | had an
Aunt RhOda who lived in Boston, or
Bangor, Or-anyway, it was Il place
that began with b, somewhere down
East. " unused Tad. Not that he
hoped, expected or even desired to meet
this. the only relative he knew d in
the world. 1t was enough TO remember
that she had never held communication
with Mrs. Thorne since her marriage to
some one whom her older sister RhOda
did not like. And slight offered to
his mother was in Tad's eyes an UNI
pardonable Offense.
But so much thinking, together with
the warmth of the steam-heating pipes
ut his back and the even. On-rushina
movement of the train, began to make
Tad drowsy. Peeping out of his hiding
place. he could see that many of the
passengers were dispOSing themselves
for uneasy slumber, and. Judging by
certain sounds from the chair in front of
him. Tad's lady was already in dream
land. SO. leaning his head back against
the fur-lincd cloak which had already
served him such n good turn, and,
being used to sleeping in all sorts of
poStureS and places, Tad fell fast asleep
in no time Rousing himself at inter
walls long enough to silently change his
cramped position, Tad passed the long
night in comparative comfort, until
with the dawn of morning all began to
shake off their drowSineSs. and to
struggle into more comfortable posi-
tons, as they grumbled about not hav-
ing slept wink during the night.
Tad's lady was not exactly cross, but
Tad noticed that she called her hus-
band Mr.. Mason, instead of John,
dear" as on the evening before, when
she asked him how he had rested. And
he also noticed that Mr.. Mason voice
was rather sharp as he replied that the
COMPOUNDED chair had given him three
distinct kinks in his backbone, and
while economy was well enough in its
place. by George. another time he'd
have his own way, and take Il section
in a ''sleeper." as sure rs his name
was John Mason.
$50. my ladyis Mrs. John Mason"
Tad thought to himself, trying in his
Imagination to picture her face from
the sound of her voice. and failing en-
tirelv. But without well knowing why,
he resolved not to forget the name OF
the lady who-as he mentally ex-
pressed it-''belongel to the fur-lined
cloak. Other and less pleasant thoughts
began to Obtrude themselves, rs the
morning wore on. Now that he was
so near his destination. Tad's growing
anxiety rs to his future movements
contrasted rather strongly with his
philosophy of the previous evening.
"Ill get something to eat. first of
oil - finally Iaoidad Tod raSoIviDu not